Wal-Mart launches campaign for veteransBENTONVILLE — Arkansas-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to give up to $1.5 million to a charity that provides housing for families of veterans who are in military or veteran hospitals. The gift announced Tuesday includes a donation of $500,000 to the Fisher House Foundation and up to $1 million more through a campaign called Holiday Sing to Salute Military Families. The company says it will donate $100 for every video of a holiday greeting or ...

Settlement reached with Millennium HealthLITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, joined by 48 other States and the District of Columbia, announced Tuesday that Arkansas will receive $121,568.64 as part of a $256 million settlement with Millennium Health, formerly Millennium Laboratories, to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for billing Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs for medically unnecessary urine drug and genetic testing a...

Downtown Art Walk & Holiday Open HouseThe Downtown Art Walk and Holiday Open House will take place from 6-9 p.m. this Friday. Russellville Downtown merchants will showcase the talents of area artists and musicians, along with their festive holiday storefronts. Community members are invited to stroll the sidewalks of Russellville Downtown while shopping for art, greeting old friends and making new ones, enjoying refreshments and taking in some of the live music. Participating locat...

A&P Commission positions openingThe Russellville Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission is accepting letters of interest for two positions that will open Jan. 1, 2016. A&P Executive Director Christie Graham said one position must be held by someone in the tourism industry and be residents of Pope County. The second commission member will be an at-large position and must also be a resident of Pope County. The positions that will open next month are currently held by Chair...

Projects stall after feds allow fish farming in the open oceanSAN DIEGO — Some 90 percent of seafood consumed by Americans is imported — a fact that the Obama administration vowed to start turning around by expanding fish and shellfish farms into federal waters. Yet nearly two years since the first permit was issued, the United States still has no offshore farms. The pioneers of offshore aquaculture say their plans have stalled or been abandoned because of the long and expensive federal permitting proces...

Commission thanks outgoing membersThe Russellville Planning Commission said goodbye to two members during its regular meeting Monday night at City Hall. Secretary Eric Westcott resigned his position on the Planning Commission to take a seat on the Russellville City Council. Jimmy Sims also presented a plaque for his service on the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment. He is moving to Texas. Chairman Scott Boyd said he was grateful that he gets to work with such good fol...

Arvest provides more than 1.6 million mealsFORT SMITH — Two months ago, Arvest Bank launched its annual 1 Million Meals initiative to fight hunger in the four-state region the bank serves. The bank has announced that, with the help of customers and community members, it has exceeded the campaign goal by raising a total of 1,652,870 meals in the fight against hunger. Launched in 2011, Arvest’s 1 Million Meals campaigns have raised a five-year total of 7,891,584 meals, which includes mor...

Salon conducts yearly ‘Adopt a Senior’ eventHair Tech Studios in Russellville is conducting their yearly “Adopt a Senior Citizen” event during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The senior residents are individuals from local long-term health care facilities in Russellville. Hair Tech Studios has sponsored this project for over 10 years and has been able to provide gifts such as clothing, toiletries and candy to area senior citizens. A tree, similar to the Angel Trees set up in va...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Water meter replacement completeCity Corp. General Manager Steve Mallett told the Board of Directors during Tuesday’s regular meeting that the $4.1 million project to replace Russellville’s 13,000 water meters is complete. Employees with Utility Meter Systems (UMS) are wrapping up the final touches on a few meters, Mallett said. The new wireless system replaces the old reading system and collects multiple remote readings a day, which will allow for better leak protection, in...

Chevrolet wins ‘Green Car of the Year’LOS ANGELES — An auto industry magazine has named the 2016 Chevrolet Volt its “Green Car of the Year.” The hybrid gas-electric Volt was honored Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Green Car Journal says the car won because of its extended range. Government fuel-economy figures show that the Volt can go 53 miles on electric power alone and 420 miles on gas and battery power. It’s the second time Green Car Journal has recognized the Volt, whi...

Angel Tree and Red Kettle kickoffA kickoff event for this year’s Salvation Army Angel Tree and Red Kettle Campaign took place Thursday at Arvest Bank in Russellville. The bank made the first donation of $1,000 in one of the recognizable red kettles that will be placed throughout town beginning Saturday. Bank employees also chose the first Angel from trees that will be located at all the Arvest Bank branches, Walmart Supercenter Vision Center and Big Country Tattoos. Volunteer...

Dinosaur claws among items on annual list of dangerous toys BOSTON — Dinosaur claws inspired by the movie "Jurassic World" and a quick-folding trampoline are among the items on a consumer watchdog group's annual list of hazardous toys released Wednesday. The Massachusetts-based World Against Toys Causing Harm says the toys singled out as the 10 most dangerous for Christmas this year represent common problems and aren't the only potentially dangerous products on the market. The Toy Industry Association ...

Employer of man killed in nuclear accident disputedA dispute has arisen over who was the employer of a worker who was killed and two workers who were injured in a 2013 accident at Arkansas Nuclear One. A Workers’ Compensation Commission hearing in the case was conducted Monday, according to published reports. A 2013 lawsuit claims Entergy Corp. was negligent in moving a 1 million-pound turbine generator stator, leading to the death of Wade Walker, 24. Ronnie Francis and Jess Clayton were injur...

Applications for Citizen of the Year now being acceptedNominations are now being accepted for 2015 Russellville Citizen of the Year. Nominees must have been a resident of the Russellville area for the past five years. Nominations must be accompanied by a resume stating the reason for the nomination and the community contributions of the nominee, or they will not be considered. Community involvement should not be limited to one field and must include areas other than those related to the nominee’s ...

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FOR THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Gas prices continue declineAverage retail gasoline prices in Arkansas have fallen 4.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $1.99/g yesterday, according to a daily survey of 1,826 gas outlets in Arkansas. This compares with the national average that has fallen 5 cents per gallon in the last week to $2.16/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com. Locally, gas prices are below the state and national averages. The lowest price reported in Russellville on ...

Minimum wage push continuesWASHINGTON — The first question in Tuesday’s GOP presidential debate — whether the minimum wage should go to $15 an hour — was the starkest evidence yet that U.S. workers have managed to thrust the issue of pay onto the presidential campaign agenda. More than six years after the Great Recession ended, weak wage gains have helped fuel movements such as the “Fight for $15,” whose supporters demonstrated outside the GOP debate in Milwaukee. Their...

Rutledge urges donors to vet charity of choiceLITTLE ROCK — On Veterans Day, we thank the men and women who have bravely defended our country, but it is also a good opportunity to remind Arkansans of the fraud that is directed at this group of heroes. Charitable organizations that provide support to military service members, veterans and their families often generate donations from many good-hearted Arkansans. Unfortunately, scam artists take advantage of this generosity. Arkansas law req...

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FOR THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley